On Friday, Room 16 took part in a longstanding 2nd grade tradition at Breck: PUMPKIN MATH!! Each child was given a pumpkin and rotated to four stations (circumference, weight, segments and float) in the 1/2 Commons, each focusing on a different math element. Students were to make a prediction for each of the following questions at each station and then measure, weigh, count to find out the actual answer.

What is the circumference of your pumpkin?

How much does your pumpkin weigh (in pounds)?

How many segments (lines) does your pumpkin have?

How many seeds to do you think are inside? (we learned in a book we read that the number of segments on the outside of a pumpkin equals the number of lines of seeds on the inside.)

Does your pumpkin float?

Once these questions were answered and recorded, students transitioned back into the room and parent volunteers cut the tops off. Students then went to town scooping out the goop, as well as separating out their seeds. Their last math challenge was to count how many seeds their pumpkin had inside. Each student had ten tiny cups and three larger ones (more were handed out if necessary). 10 seeds went into each of the tiny cups and when 10 tiny cups were filled, students emptied them into one of the larger cups, which would then equal 100. This was the method of their counting madness and soon brought almost all of them to the actual number of seeds inside their pumpkin. I think all were surprised how many seeds were inside compared to their prediction at the beginning! It was a fun and silly day, as you can tell from the hilarious quotes below (courtesy of Mary Ann Flanders):"Whoa...this feels like paradise.""This is the grossest thing I do with my life.""Every seed counts, PEOPLE!""This is the best day of my life!""Ahhh...the sweet smell of success!""This is going to take for-ever!""Don't you have a machine to count these seeds?!"

Monday, October 24, 2016

Today was our first day participating in Journey North, a Global Study of Wildlife Migration and Seasonal Change. Journey North is a fun, interactive and engaging months-long project where student scientists around the globe participate in tracking wildlife migration and/or seasonal change. Participants share field observations across the northern hemisphere, exploring the interrelated aspects of seasonal change. There are many topics to choose from (eagles, Monarch Butterflies, Whooping Cranes, Grey Whales, etc), however, we are taking part in the Tulip Test Gardens. Today each student was given a tulip bulb. In partnership with Ms. Schoenborn's class, we then measured the circumference and weighed each; making all recordings in our Science Journals. Afterwards, we went into the Lower School Secret Garden to plant these special bulbs in a 'Tulip Garden' in anticipation of spring. Students used shovels to dig their hole and then measured to make sure it was deep enough. They dropped their bulb (pointy side up) and covered with dirt. Finally, they put their stake in the ground so we know whose is whose when they start to break ground come spring. In the coming months, we will continue to monitor and record observations ... patiently waiting for the tulips to, fingers crossed, break ground and then, bloom.We had some extra bulbs, so we thought it would be fun to plant some 'experimental' bulbs... we will just have to wait and see the results, if any! Experimental bulbs planted:- horizontal- too shallow- upside down- underneath rocks- cut in half, bulb side up- cut in half, bulb side down

We all had a blast learning about tulips and getting out in the fresh air as student/citizen scientists! We can't wait to see what happens in the coming months!

We want to formally thank
Cassy Turner, Breck School's Math in Focus representative. She led a captivating Parent
Night, which gave an overview of our math program and stressed the importance
of understanding applied math, along with consistent practice of basic facts.

Along with the Parent Night,
Cassy also facilitated a teacher workshop on Thursday, October 20, and met with
grade level teams to zero in on questions on how best to improve our knowledge
of upcoming concepts and skills.Through
these conversations, we have added an additional second grade practice math
activity for homework on Wednesdays. We will also plan to integrate some math skills
(measurement, mass and volume) with science lessons.

Monday, October 17, 2016

We wanted to make sure that EVERYONE knows they are invited to participate in "BreckScaresHunger." We are working together throughout all divisions to collect 14,000 pounds of food to help stock local food shelves.

Incentives for Lower School:

4 tons - Extra recess

6 tons - The bounce house will show up at a Recess

7 tons - Mr. Kim will camp out in the Headmaster's Garden and wear pajamas all day. Top participants will join him for breakfast and everyone gets a Pajama Day!

Please bring donations to US or MS/LS entrances to be weighed on Oct. 31, Nov. 1 or Nov. 2, before school (7:45-8:30 AM). Donations can also be brought to school on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1:00-4:00 PM, LS/MS entrance.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Reading: Reader's Workshop will be out in full force this week. Workshop typically consists of a full-group mini lesson, followed by independent reading while working on whatever strategy was introduced. During this time, I will meet with Book Clubs. Following this, your child will have Academic Free Choice where they have the option to continue to read to self, read to a partner, practice their spelling, work on creative writing or, occasionally, go online for an e-book through TumbleBooks. I introduced Academic Free Choice to them last week and they were very excited! While they work on their choice, I will be conferring with students to see how their reading is going and what we can possibly work on (individually or as a whole class).

Writing: We will continue getting into the swing of things with our writing partners - focusing on how to be a good, supportive partner and how to have a partnership that gives/takes equally and respectfully.

Spelling: Due to the short week, no new spelling words will come home.

Math: We will continue working in Chapter 2. We just finished learning how to add with and without regrouping in either ones or tens. Next up: Addition with Regrouping in Both Ones and Tens.

Social Studies: Urban, Suburban and Rural communities will grace our walls starting this week. Room 16 students worked hard on their community and are proud of the work they have done. We will also start talking more about community helpers.

Science: Soon we will plant pumpkin seeds in our Grow Lab, but in the very near future, we will plant a tulip bulb in the Lower School Secret Garden. This is a grade-wide initiative and will be very fun! More information to come.

Reading: Book clubs are starting! Your child will be assigned a non-fiction book. All groups will have the same theme this first round: Plants.

Writing: Writing partners will be introduced! Partners play a pivotal role in the writing process. They read stories, help with spelling, give ideas, add punctuation, ask questions, make sure the story makes sense and GIVE COMPLIMENTS! I hope your child enjoys their partnership and that it provides the support to make their story even better!

Spelling: New words will come home this week. Please use the Spelling Menu for at-home activities or create your own! Remember, no Spelling homework on Wednesday.

Math: We will continue working in Chapter 2. We just finished a lesson on Addition WITHOUT Regrouping... next up is Addition WITH Regrouping in Ones. Please let me know if your child is having trouble at home with their assignments. This gives me a better idea of where they are at with the concept and if anything needs to be reinforced.

Social Studies: Finishing touches will be put on your child's community this week and then displayed on our classroom walls. Next up in the Community theme: talking about community helpers.

Science: Grass heads will go home this week! We will continue taking a closer look at seeds through a variety of activities. Next up for our Grow Lab: planting Pumpkin seeds!

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Choice time is a favorite time of day when the children get to pick whatever they want to do upon entering the classroom. I've captured some choices in the pictures below. These kids know how to have fun! :-)